Introducing fruits/veggies

[Rocky]

Hey I have been trying to introduce grapes, carrots, strawberries, and lettuce to my cham but I can't get him to even pay attention to it. I hang the lettuce from parts on the cage where he can get and i have the carrots, strawberries, and grapes in a little cup lid that is wedged between some branches in his tree.

Any ideas on how to get him to try them?

 

[tryme]

If you cup feed it, put it in the cup (aslong as its big enough, they soon realise they have to bite it to eat it rather then shoot their tongue) . This way they know its food. Either that or put it high in the cage. My veiled wont venture to the bottom for a bit of fruit or veg. He will eat banana alot though no matter where it is he loves it. He likes a bit of apple and he likes fresh greens in his cup.

 

[Rocky]

hmmm i may try banana, do you put slices up? I dont cup feed his crickets i let him hunt them down

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Hey Rocky ... what type of cham do you have? Most of my veileds will eat pieces of grape, strawberry and recently musk melon. I cut little pieces off and stick them to twigs that protrude from the plants or vines.

Mine have never eaten lettuce but I've heard that collard or mustard greens work ... haven't found them to try yet.

Perhaps give him a day with no food ... as long as he's not a young cham ... and then stick some pieces of fruit in and wait half a day. Three of my four adult veileds with eat the fruits described above almost immediately. One will even take it from my hand.

Dyesub Dave.

 

[kenya]

Hey Rocky ... what type of cham do you have? Most of my veileds will eat pieces of grape, strawberry and recently musk melon. I cut little pieces off and stick them to twigs that protrude from the plants or vines.

Mine have never eaten lettuce but I've heard that collard or mustard greens work ... haven't found them to try yet.

Perhaps give him a day with no food ... as long as he's not a young cham ... and then stick some pieces of fruit in and wait half a day. Three of my four adult veileds with eat the fruits described above almost immediately. One will even take it from my hand.

Dyesub Dave.

Can I try this with my panthers? I mean, do panthers eat fruit and veggies on occasion?

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Not sure about panthers as I only have veileds at the moment. I know that veileds are known to eat the leaves and flowers from plants and was actually surprised when they started eating pieces of fruit.

I guess it doesn't hurt to try with panthers. The worst that can happen is they won't eat it !!

Dyesub Dave.

 

[tryme]

Panthers are known to not be as keen on fruit and veg as much as veileds.

 

[JoshCrane1]

my veiled would eat the plants in his enclosure, then one day while he was doing so... i shoved a piece of collard in his face and he chomped on it; now if its his choice he would eat only collards.

 

[kinyonga]

Be careful with the bananas.

I would take a thin wedge of apple and when his mouth is open, stick it in far enough that he will bite on it with his teeth when he shuts his mouth. Make sure whatever you give him is in suitable sized pieces.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Generally speaking, in my experience, most panther chameleons dont tend to want fruit or veg. Sometimes babies will bite leafy things, but not much. Of all the panther chams I've had, only one adult, a female, had any interest in fruits and veggies. But since this same cham would also try to eat my eye-balls, rocks, branches, and once even her own foot, anything that moved or might move, well she was an odd one. (and this constant hunger was despite having plenty of bugs to eat, more than she probably should have had)

 

[kenya]

Generally speaking, in my experience, most panther chameleons dont tend to want fruit or veg. Sometimes babies will bite leafy things, but not much. Of all the panther chams I've had, only one adult, a female, had any interest in fruits and veggies. But since this same cham would also try to eat my eye-balls, rocks, branches, and once even her own foot, anything that moved or might move, well she was an odd one. (and this constant hunger was despite having plenty of bugs to eat, more than she probably should have had)

That was probably my favorite description of a panther ever. Thanks for the chuckle!

 

[Rocky]

Hey Rocky ... what type of cham do you have? Most of my veileds will eat pieces of grape, strawberry and recently musk melon. I cut little pieces off and stick them to twigs that protrude from the plants or vines.

Mine have never eaten lettuce but I've heard that collard or mustard greens work ... haven't found them to try yet.

Perhaps give him a day with no food ... as long as he's not a young cham ... and then stick some pieces of fruit in and wait half a day. Three of my four adult veileds with eat the fruits described above almost immediately. One will even take it from my hand.

Dyesub Dave.

I havent thought about sticking them to twigs i will try that. He loved his live plants. I had a hibiscus in there and he destroyed it... there are very few leaves left on it now. He doesnt really eat the pothos or umbrella plant though

 

[dodolah]

good luck and keep us posted
Don't feel pressured if he doesn't like it.
My veiled never learn to like fruits and veggies no matter how hard i try.

 

[tryme]

I don't know if this is true or not but some people told me if you gut load the crix etc with what you want the veiled to eat he might start taking it normally.